Natalie's Orchard Island Orange Juice Recipe

Time20m

Serves1

individual bottles, 12 oz

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Ingredients

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1
Select and wash oranges
Choose ripe Valencia or navel oranges with bright skin (about 3 medium oranges to yield ~12 oz). Rinse fruit under cool running water to remove dirt or residues.
2
Juice oranges
Cut oranges in half and juice using a manual or mechanical citrus juicer. Collect juice in a sanitized pitcher. Strain juice through a fine mesh sieve into a second clean container to remove seeds and most pulp for a smoother juice (reserve pulp if you want more body). Aim for 12 fluid ounces (355 ml) of juice per bottle.

3
Taste and adjust
Taste the strained juice. If the juice is tart or not sweet enough, stir in 1/2 tablespoon simple syrup or agave nectar per 12 oz to reach desired sweetness. Add 1/4 tablespoon fresh lime juice to brighten the flavor and stir. Add a pinch of sea salt to round out the citrus notes. Mix thoroughly.

4
Add preservative and clarifier (optional)
If you want to extend shelf life slightly and limit browning, dissolve 1/4 teaspoon ascorbic acid per bottle into a small amount of juice and then blend into the batch. To reduce cloudiness or viscosity, add 1/4 teaspoon pectin enzyme according to manufacturer instructions and allow to sit the recommended time, then strain again through cheesecloth. Note: these steps are optional; fresh, refrigerated juice without preservatives will keep 2–3 days.

5
Chill bottles
Chill bottles and caps in ice or refrigerated area so juice cools quickly and reduces foam during filling.
6
Fill bottles
Using a sanitized funnel, pour juice into a chilled 12 oz bottle, leaving about 1/4 inch headspace. Cap tightly to reduce oxidation. Wipe any spills from outside of bottle with a clean cloth.
7
Label and store
Label each bottle with product name, pack date, and 'keep refrigerated'. Store bottles upright in the refrigerator at 34–40°F (1–4°C). Consume within 2–3 days if no preservatives added; with ascorbic acid and good cold chain, quality may extend to 5–7 days but flavor and vitamin C will decline.